Question of the Week: 1 - 8/7/2000Who are you going to vote for and why?Which political platform or candidate are you leaning towards? Do you think that a level of political involvement is important to pagans? Are you registered to vote, will you vote and who -if you don't mind telling the world- are you planning to vote for (or against)?

As a witch and a slightly to the right voter, I definitely will not be voting for the Democrats or the Republicans, because they are fundamentally the same. Both wish to take our right to protect ourselfes away, undermind our industrial base by sending our jobs abroad and centralizing everything to DC, and redistibuting our individual wealth. We as pagans are unique and individuals. Socialism (The Socialist Party) seeks to have a collective reasoning or thought and is unnatural. They wouldent be the "kind" socialist party. I've been to countries where they had this sort of government...basically to babysit them; where there is mass pollution and destitution. The Republicans, whom I used to vote for in the past, have sold out to the left and abandoned US soverignty and protection of life. So, with that in mind, I'm voting for Hagelin. He stands for ridding ourselfs of GATT, WTO and NAFTA. He's for soverignty. He's for the 2nd amendment, he has alternative spirituality. I'm voting for him.

I am a 25 Y/O registered voter. I believe that I would like to see a green party president. Its possible just not probable. I feel that as an american it is each and every ones task to take a stand and voice out for freedoms that we take for granted. For if we do not use theese freedoms we may loose them without ever noticing that they have slipped away As a chaos magician I am not beyond using magic to work for those that I favor and against those I dont.

Hmmm...Gush or Bore? I just can't bring myself to vote for either of them. Neither's speeches ring of anything but contrivance and pandering...all flash and no substance. I'm a pretty firm believer in democracy, and when I cast my vote, I prefer it to be FOR someone, rather than AGAINST another. That being said, it's looking more and more like the Green Party and Ralph Nader for me.

I Will Not Be Voting This Election Year, I Am Throwing My...

Aug 7th. at 8:49:58 am UTC

Shadow (St. Augustine, Florida US)

Age: 35

I will not be voting this election year, I am throwing my vote away in protest to the out right lying and political corruption that has overwhelmed the United States.

This will be the first time since I have been able to vote that I will not vote.

As a former United States Marine, very proud of my country, and about as patriotic as a person can be without being a zealot to the cause, I am ashamed of our countries politions. One is a known liar, the other someone who prom, otes religious intolerance over others. Niether are worth my time and effort to vote for. On the local level, I do what I can but I see no redeming hope for our national level politions.

Yes, I do think political involvment is important to pagans, I also think it should be important enough to be involved as much as one can stomach it.

Yes, I am registered to vote.

Most likely I will end up voting. And probably against Gore. Not because I like Bush, but because I detest Gore and what he has shown the american people to be capable of, Bush's religious indignation towards other religions can be fought, legally and constitutionally. His Jesus day and other inappropriate religious ovatures are being battled. But you can not battle a liar and win, not when too many people are willing to back the liear, not to save their skins, not to save his skin, but to save party skin, Clinton is a prime example. Even his own party acknowledged his wrong doing, but they steadfastly refused to do anything about it. Thats like a cop saying yes he is wrong for breaking and entering, but we are not going to do anything about it. Amounts to the same thing. Gore is knee deep in Clintons mess and neck deep in his own.

Recently I Was Able To Spend Time Around Serious Christians (meaning People...

Recently I was able to spend time around serious Christians (meaning people who know their bibles and have deeply-held beliefs) and what I learned has affected my life: Christians seriously, sincerely believe that any non-Christian is not only doomed to their hell but under the influence of "satan." Not a shocker, right? Well, what this means is that NO amount of "goodwill" education about who we are as pagans and what we do as pagans will EVER get them to accept us and allow us to be ourselves. If they appear to "accept" us, it is only because they think they can convert us. They can't truly accept us, because they sincerely believe we are led by satan (us denying the existence of satan means nothing except to "prove" that the devil's got us duped). So if education and networking won't work against this country's Christian force, what will? Politics. The law is on our side; the constitution is on our side. We must fight very, very diligently to retain the right of freedom of religion. It is VITAL that EVERY pagan vote--Christians vote in their attempt to have their religion forced on everyone, and so must we vote to counteract them and insure that we are allowed to practice our religion. I know a Christian who says, in response to people who complain about any kind of Christianity in the public sphere, "The constitution guarantees freedom *OF* religion, not freedom *FROM* religion." He's right, but not in the way he thinks--the constitution guarantees freedom *OF* religion, not freedom *from- every-religion- except-Christianity*, which is what Christians seem to be after. We must be ever-diligent and keep fighting to retain our rights. We must vote for whoever seems the most likely to fight for us.

Blessed Be,Gillian Silverheart (aka sara j, ladyfayre)

I Am Leaning Towards The Democratic Platform. As A Pagan And A...

Aug 7th. at 9:28:44 am UTC

Sean Wilson (Champaign, Illinois US)

Age: 31

I am leaning towards the Democratic platform. As a pagan and a parent, I have a lot of concern about the Christian Right and the fact they wish to outlaw our religion. While some will argue that the Constitution declares that all religions are equal and therefore none can be outlawed, there is a world of difference between legal theory and legal reality. By the time the Supreme Court got the chance to say that any law outlawing pagan religions was unconstitutional a lot of damage would have already been done. So, yes all Pagans need to be politically active. If there comes a time when our faith is accepted as a normal activity, then perhaps could Pagans become less political. But since the Jews still need to be politically active, I doubt it will be soon before we won't need to be. I am registered to vote and I will vote for Al Gore. I may be tempted to vote for a third party candidate but unfortunately, such a candidate will not win. I need to back someone who can win and will at least be neutral to my faith. Although the Republican platform calls for religious tolerance, I would like to see some action to backup words before I will believe it.

Yea I Think It Important To Be Involved The Politics. Yes I...

Aug 7th. at 10:11:06 am UTC

Liz (Folly Beach, South Carolina US)

Age: 45

Yea I think it important to be involved the politics. Yes I am a registered voter and i will vote in Nov. I just don't know who yet.

It would take a wild herd of horses (a large one) to drag me away from voting for Al Gore. I fear that Bush and Cheney will take this election as the country swings to the conservative right once more. I believe that Gore has the knowledge to do what's best for the US as a whole, rather than just the rich. Quite frankly, the Republicans strike me as a thieving and conniving bunch of Rich White Men who want only the best for other Rich White Men. Everyone else has to fend for themselves.

As for pagans being involved in politics, at this point I think we should start with local rather than national politics in order to raise confidence at voter level. Who knows, one day a pagan could be President!

In An Ideal Political Environment, The Green Party Would Be My Preference...

Aug 7th. at 10:57:51 am UTC

Heather (Austin)

Age: 36

In an ideal political environment, the Green Party would be my preference this November. However, we do not yet live in that ideal political nation. More than grassroots efforts are needed to popularize the party. More front page positive news stories, more serious coverage by the major news networks, funding by "legitimate" and "respected" sources.....all these things may eventually lead to an election in which a vote for a third party candidate will truly count.

Until that time I will cast my vote for the candidate who will best protect my interests, and who has the most realistic chance of winning the election. Gore may have faults, but Bush couldn't buy my vote with all the oil money in Texas.

(To all the Greens I may have offended.....these words were meant as food for thought, and fuel for action.)

I would say that I am a Libertarian because I believe that the Federal Government should only be involved in the National Defence of our borders, assisting in trade disputes between the states and to keep the Interstate freeways kept up. Most of the time I vote the Republican Ticket only for the fact that I am a fiscal conservative.

I believe that as Pagans should be involved in politics, mainly from the local level. I believe that it is our duty to participate even if it is only voting in all elections no matter how small. As an Asatruar I value the ability that we have to voice our opinion and vote, I also believe that we need to find political leaders that support our value system especially our independence, self-reliance, and our ability of self-rule to take control of our lives as we see fit. I also think that we should be involved for another reason and that is to go against the religious right (funamentalism christianity, who would outlaw our beliefs or our ability to worship freely. These groups pump a lot of money in the political coffers as well as get their people to go vote for candidates who will further their goals.

I am a registered Republican, I am thinking of registering as a Libertarian. I haven't decided yet, I would like to see Libertarian Harry Brown become president, but I'm more likely to vote for Bush, only because I don't want to see AlGore in the Whitehouse. I would like to get rid of the Clinton/Gore nightmare.

I would love to vote for Ralph Nader - the whole green thing - but as great as some of his ideas are, they are much too radical for most of non-thinking America. I will be voting for Al Gore, not because I really support him or the Democratic platform, but because I don't want to live in a country where GWBush and his followers are in charge. I have nightmares about what the Supreme Court may do to any number of our freedoms with a vehemently Christian 'burning bush' in office, if you get my drift. Thanks for the opportunity to comment!

"Leaning towards" doesn't cover it - I'm downright falling into the Democratic camp. I really have difficulty seeing how people who are interested in First Amendment rights could possible vote for George W. - this is, after all, the man who said that the U.S. military should not recognize Wicca as a religion. And since the next president will probably determine the makeup of the Supreme Court - who decide how the First Amendment will be interpreted - for the next couple of decades, I have no real choice but to vote for Al Gore. And I WILL be voting, and encouraging all of my like-minded friends to do so. It's time to walk the talk, folks - don't rely on other people to make leadership decisions for you. Peace!

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